Huw's Bit Last day in StP. Spent morning/lunch running around seeing the remaining sites. Very moving to see Romanov family resting place in St Peter and Paul's Cathedral having seen where their 'graves' were found in Yekaterinburg. Part of complex is the prison where the Tsar and later the Revolution where political prisoners were held - doesn't sound like rehabilitaion was part of the brief! Lots executed, and very quickly after being arrested. National ho...

Huw's Bit Spent 2 hrs+ in The Hermitage first thing - wow! Amazing collection but you need at least a week in there! Russian sub and battle ships on the river with crew on deck in full dress uniform, music playing and whistles going - engines on - all very exciting - its a national holiday tmorrow: Navy Day. Found an adapter for my Mac - yeay - back in business! Highlight of day though was the ballet! Yes, correct I said the ballet - it was outstanding! Al...

Huw's Bit Morning swim and spa! This is more like it! SAPSAN high speed train to St Petersburg is fantastic! Not only high speed but outstanding 3 course meal (with vodka) served in our very comfortable, reclining leather seats! Good wifi speed as well. They've clearly been learning off British Rail(nt)! Does BR even exist anymore? Hotel smack in the middle of town - not as good as Moscow though! Different feel to Moscow - feels much more touristy! ...

Huw's Bit Heard the metro (Tube) was worth seeing so spent an hour whiz zing around this morning. Well worth it! Some of the stations are fabulous: ceilings, chandeliers, mosaics, extraordinary! And the service! Train every 2 minutes, $1 per journey for as far as you want, clean - nobody talks though same as rest of world! Got dragged to the museum of Modern Art! Aaaaaaaaaarrrrrgggghhh! Don't get it at all! How can you have a museum of modern art - oxymo...

Huw's Bit Pushkin state art gallery OK! Red Square and St Basil's everything I wanted and more! Saw the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour where the p**** Riot girls punk band made their protest last year - all got 2 years jail - the security was absolutely full on! Military styled police uniforms, squad cars, paddy wagons, fenced off areas! You couldn't move 10m without bumping into 3 cops! Every station, gallery, museum etc has metal/explosive detectors at t...